Through-fill closure for a receptacle

Abstract

A through-flow closure for a receptacle of flowable material, the closure includes a body part having a charging aperture and a closure operating member for opening the closure device of a container. There is an annular gap between the edge of the aperture and the closure operating device. A stretchable annular sealing member attached to the body part. The sealing member seals the gap between the body part and the closure operating member when the receptacle and container are separated and forms a seal between the body part and the container when the receptacle and the container are moved together and prior to the closure operating member opening the closure device of the container.

What I claim is:  
     
       1. A through-fill closure for a receptacle of flowable material, the closure comprising a body part having a charging aperture; a closure operating member for opening a closure device of a container; said closure operating member being connected to the body part by a plurality of rigid spaced apart connecting elements; an annular or substantially annular gap between the edge of the aperture and the closure operating device; and a stretchable annular sealing member attached to the body part; the sealing member sealing the gap between the body part and the closure operating member when the receptacle and container are separated, and forming a seal between the body part and the container when the receptacle and the container are moved together and prior to the closure operating member opening the closure device of the container. 
     
     
       2. A closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the closure operating member projects above the body part so as to extend into the container and engage with the closure device to raise the latter relative to the container, as the receptacle and container are moved together. 
     
     
       3. A through-fill closure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing member has a thickened inner edge portion which sealingly and slidably engages the closure operating member when the receptacle and container are separated. 
     
     
       4. A through-fill closure as claimed in  claim 1 , in combination with a receptacle of flowable material, the closure closing the top of the receptacle when the receptacle and container are separated. 
     
     
       5. The combination of  claim 4  in combination also with the container having an outlet valve comprising a valve body and the closure device which can be raised or lowered to open and close the outlet valve. 
     
     
       6. The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the upper surface of the closure device is conical or pyramidical. 
     
     
       7. The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the closure device has a recess in its lower surface for receiving part of the closure operating device. 
     
     
       8. The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the receptacle is an intermediate bulk container.